Nonconvenience and convenience food use by younger and older elderly Americans

The focus of this study is on analyses of the use of nonconvenience and various types of convenience foods by households with a male or female head 65-74 years of age (younger elderly) and those with a male or female head 75 and older (older elderly) in the United States. These households are considered elderly households although in some cases they may include some nonelderly individuals. Convenience foods are defined in the study as foods that are partially or fully prepared when purchased. The data source for this study is the 1977-1978 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Both groups of elderly households spend approximately 59 percent of the at-home food dollar on nonconvenience foods, and 19, 16, and 6 percent on basic, complex, and manufactured convenience products, respectively. Nutrient content of the foods used is often significantly higher in younger than older elderly households, as is total expenditure for food per household member. However, nutrients obtained per dollar expended are frequently higher in older elderly households than in younger elderly households.

The share of the food dollar spent on the various nonconvenience and convenience food classes by elderly households is related to several sociodemographic characteristics of the population. Geographic region, season, household size and income, and race of the respondent, as well ivas education and sex of the meal planner affect the budget share allocated to nonconvenience foods. Geographic region, urbanization (population density), and sex of the respondent are related to the budget share apportioned to basic and complex convenience foods, while the budget share allocated to manufactured convenience foods is influenced by sex of the meal planner, shopping frequency, and household income.